Axle construction



Nov. 11, 1930. F. D. HOWE v AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed om, ,15, 1923l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fr; azz/ 27;/7/014/6,

Q ATTORN Nov. 1 1, 1930.

F. D. HOWE 1,780,922

AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 15, 1925 3 sheets-sheetz IN VEN TOR.

BY @y haii? Nov. 11,-1930. F. DfHowE AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. l5, 1923 5 S'xee't/S-Sheell 3 i, (9% A TTORNEY S10 ble driving a'xles,suchas Patented Nov. 11, 1930 Y p rrmivxlr). Howe, or cnranoen FALLS', oHro Axt-@CONSTRUCTION rlhis invention relates to an axlepconstrucytion.V More particularly it comprises a driv- .ing'axle for a motor vehicle of a typeespecially useful forv motor busses and similar 4@vehicles in which-a low floor combined with good-road clearancefis essential. Theaxle Yis ofthedouble reduction type having a final reduction adjacent the wheels and is also adapted for luseon vehicles having dou- Y are employed on six-wheel vehicles. l c, i

In connection with many Ydriving axles heretofore described for use on busses it has been necessary to provide a'high floor and l5it was'found thata low'center of gravity combined with` sufficient spring action `and ample road clearance could not be satisfactorily provided for. This is particularly true with respect to vehiclesof the six-wheel Zotype having double-driving axles. In most of such vehicles ,itris proposed` toy drive through worm gears. This .involves the positioning of theworm aboveor below the axle', necessitating` ahigh floor in the adja- 25 centbodyof the vehicle in oneycase orgreat-y ly reducing the road clearance` in; instance.' f, v 1 i I The object yof the presentinventionfisto obviate the disadvantages above-outlined the lother 301 andY to provide an axle having full road clearanceand at the sanietimeatop face-located? in approximately the plane of the wheel supy, portingaxle shafts.- lAnother object of thev invention isto supply an axle rhaving excep- .35 tional lubricating facilities and also having wholly enclosed interengaging parts, the eleand so disposed that extreme quietness of operation will result. A' further? object of the 40 invention is vto provide a driving axle con-4 struction which -may be used whenawplurality of driving axles is Yrequired without changing the height of the axle casing or in-` anyway, interfering with the road clearance.

' 145 Further objectsgof the invention vwill appearv in the course .ofthe following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, vsaid invention, then, consists of. the means hereinafter fully describedand .50 VKparticularly pointed outin the claims.

. description set forth: in

The annexed drawing and the following 'anism embodyingthe invention, such disjclosed imeans, constituting, however, but one Y of various mechanical. formsy in which the principle ofthe invention may be used. kIn said annexed drawingz'- yportion oftheV improved axle and one end thereof with the Wheel appliedy thereto, the y, `last named-parts being. shown in section;`

detail; certain fmech- 4Fig. lis an elevation showing thecentral Fig. 2is'a horizontal .sectional View ofrithe "central portioaof the axle, together Swith one endathereof, witha `wheel applied thereto Fig.` i 3 is a horizontal vsectional, :viewl ya showing the central portionfof the axle struc- V ture as modified for usek where-apluralityv of drivinga'xles are to be employed; yand Fig. 4 is a l sideelevation of the brake drumA showing the detailsof vthe ,brake structure.

As is clearly shown inFig. 1, the axle 001.11- prises ahousing l. havingaattened upper face 2, and havingenlarged conical extensions 3 at either end. iThe forward face of Vsubstantial,size and approximately,elliptical 'j l outline within which the carrying frame 5 of said housing -is provided with anA opening'l of the differential mechanism is, adapted to be secured byfmeans of a series kof boltsj. Said opening ,andl the. end portions'thereofaie means of suitable bolts 8 and 9 to the adjacent faceofthe housing and.said frame, `respec-V tively.A 'The carrying. yframe has alforward A,extension 11 `within which the Aend of theJ closed bymeans ofcoveryplates 7' secured bfy-V y driving shaft 121 carrying the driving vpinion 13.- is V.carried in suitable Vradial and-4 thrust `bearings 14 andl,respectively.4 The driving, usual ring: gear .16 g which is secured toa hollow )axle 1.7v enclos-v pinion engages `with the ing the beveledpinions 18,19, of the differential mechanism. Said hollow .axlesv is supported .upon suitable ball`l bearings. 21, v22, which maybe adjusted through the'zside plates Tattached tothe front face ofthe/housing.- The usual driving axleshafts23, 24, havetheir inner ends firmly secured within the respective beveled pinions 19 and at their outer ends areksupported in bearings, carframe occupies the central portionrof Ysaidj i ed'ivvithltheAV driving aeeof said housing.

" arefsecured to `each other bypmeans joffsuitable bolts 28.'I lUpon-the outer ends off said driving; axle shafts pinions 32-are secured,

'Y said vinions engaging withaninternal-gear 10 I33 seouredtothestub axle shafts Blpoonnect-vlj: y l v Ywheels" of `,the-fvehielef' Said stub axle shafts lare journaled in a pagirg,v ofend plates 3 5, 36, carrying respectively the bearings 37,' 38.

sure'the rigid supporting rofy said stub axle shafts and'r ,a re` mounted; upon opposite sides of saidv internal gear. 1 The outer ends vofsaid if "stubaxles aree-'provided With/ani'integral.' 2o Harige 4 1 carrying fastening bolts 42 4whereby the di'sewheels ofthe vehicle are" seeured thereto The dises of'said wheels are prefj 'e I'alily''n iadeiv in the form'V -offeone's having- 'f domediapexes' said apxesbeingspaeed apart n k121i `fromthe'stubaxle flanges lljan'd tending to Wheel 'discs 4:3

vfstrengthen the resistance of 1 andT-flanges l1'againstside thrustsv acting at "through bearings 31 into thereduetion ygear l l housing,lnsuringgarnplelubrioationl vvithlthefusual flangesiililupon which are seat-l 1 v led"the:con' ventional' tire supporting rims 45 Y the jvvheel rims??v Saidjvvheels "aref provided f'f I Theuinner'and'outer end platesf'35, 36f,*are

secured lto Vthe ends yof the;l axle inV any 'desired Y vffmanner." the"centralfhousingis madea "'fcasting hefinner plates maybe east inte- 35 -gral'ly'fwith it."- The innerendiplate's 35 are.

l v'lov'veredges Withv enlargements 51'against Y which the flanged extensions of the axle hous- VingV re stl. Saidfenlargementsare suitably ofapertured'toreeeive the stud bolts 5 2' upon Y l '.vvhioh the springs connect-ingtheYaxlewith 'l vthe frame ofrthevehiole, are secured. f- Said "studsare Iiirovided With suitable oil grooves 53iand havesorevvfthreadedends by meansVrl` i l O'which they are firmlyseated in saiden'- f j 'largements Set screws` '5 5'serve to hold said f y studs rigidly: in their adj ustedgpositions: -f-At Q peint end fthe brakeI band '64, Vwhich has connected fto'itsinner:faoeastrap 65 having a suitably shaped 'Central portion 66-extending about# 67 secured tothe ends of 's'aid'lstrap' 'and`l to pin- 68,011 the brake drum I serve t'ol retraetthe brake "band when thevbrakingjpressure isreleased. Similar springs 71' 1 l are 'fleonneeted With short straps72,f73," atfthebraking pressure is relievedv -Said Y springs Yare eonneoted with apin 74 upon the rvbrake, drum.

i "y Within'the sleeve lOperatingshaftl 81 o l These bearingsare'spaced?y 'Y 1.5 ya Substantial Vdistance from eaoh other toinfthe driving s 1 nter'mediate of the' enlargements sup-V f v portingthestud bolts forfthe springs, sleeves r 50 61,62, are Aprovided. -Within the sleeve 6l" abolt 631is provided supporting at its inner' ofthe brake isfjournaled. Said lshaft a crank arm 82 operated in the usual man# Y ner by hand lever or foot pedal and suitable connections and at its inner endpcarries an enlargement provided Withfa pair of brake 'band' expanding .cams 84;

fimmediateiyinside of the struggente@ Stubv axle shaft'acover plate 91 is secured bymeans Y of suitable bolts 92j.; Aidust 'ring93is'se-V cured Within saidjlcver plateso as to form a 4s'ub'stantially dust-proof elosure'for the endsof ythe axle.l

motor busses. The driving shafts operate in v Thus fitfvvill be'noted the construction provides angaxle" which has many advantages, particularly for use upon loilf'and theinternalgearis; rigidly held at V- theend-of the axlehousing Any transverse or''Weavingstrfviins upon the Wheelzwould'not be'transmitted in any large degree'ftothe in-v ternal gear which s supported atan approxivmately central "point between l the bearings of Vtheistub axle. Thewheels arereadily de`- parts 1 for Lady ustment lorf-repair. Oil vplaced in] the central tubular sectionl will iiow u 'amable fromme aub'f-axlesnges `.and the constructionprovides foreasyaccess to the If desired, the Wheels v may bekeyed to ex# tensions ofthe stub `Yaxles instead Vof being fsecu-redtsolelyito lthe stub axle flangesi" The manner-in which the axle maybe modi-V fied for-useinieonnectionvvith"the second' 7' drivingaxle is-clearly disclosed:l infFig.:V

1In said ligure thehousing- 101 is provided 'with openings 102 and 103,` respeetively, at

its rfontand rear-sides.; The forwardl open-` f fing, corresponding with .the opening disv Yclosed in the` axleheretofore descril` ed,'has VV inserted therein algearryijng' frame or lider-v ential-housing 104, Whiohihas a rearward extension designed topassthrough' and reg" ister with the rearward opening throughsaid* Within saidy Carrying frame haft'fextension 106 is 'mounted' axle housing.;

in-suitable bearing`s107,"T108,y securedin the having integralgbeveledgears iat' each' :end

andfmount'edforfrot tionupon driving i shaft extensionxon opposite sides l of fsaidl In thesi'des of the differentialcarf rying framelthe ends-of the respeetivefsee-- `tions of the {'drivngaxle shafts 11351114, are

spider.

vprovided With4 ring gears 115,116, respec- Y tively. Said drivingfaxle shafts aremounted at theirinner endsY in bearings v117, 118, re- Y:

spec-tively, which .are V'offset 'from'eaeh other in ahorizontal planeso .that therino' gears carried byfsaidl shaftsl may mesh'with-z the outer beveled gears ofthe respective sleeves i 111,`112."*With a diierential mechanism of this type, the drivingoreeof the axle vvillf be applied through the beveled gears at the outer ends of each of the sleeves 111, 112, and being -applied at opposite sides of the respective ring gears, will serve to drivehoth of the driving axle shaftsy in the same direction. By means ofl a further extension of the main driving shaft of the motorvvehicle the power can be transmitted to a second axleof the type first described, for a second axle of the ident-ical type vwhich would be capable of still further transmitting the power.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of suoliy stated means Vbe employe 4 I thereforeparticularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention v 1. In an axle, the combination of a substantially tubular housing` having enlarged end portions, a pair of plates secured to each of the ends of said housing in spaced relation to each other, bearings supported in each of said plates, a stub axle shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings at each end ofthe housing, a gear mounted on each of said stub axle shafts, and driving means extending to the respective ends of said tubular housing and engaging said respective gears;

2. In an axle, a hollow, load carrying housing having enlarged oil retaining end portions and a depressed central portion, bear-V ings in said enlarged portions, inwardly prodles carried by said bearings, driving gears mounted upon said spindles, drivingT pinions engaging said driving gears, differential 5l y u y acentral part ofsaid housing. said shafts havingaxesinfoffset relation to each other,bevel .gears 'on vthe 'innergfends ,ofrsaidshafts, `a

gearing within the central portion of said housing and driving shafts within said housing connecting said dierential gearing and said pinions, said shafts having axes inl offset relation to each other;

3. In an axlethe combination of a sub-- stantially tubular housing having enlarged end portions, a pair of plates secured to each of the ends of said' housing in spaced relation to each other, bearings supported in each of said plates, a stub axle:y shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings at each 'end of the housing, an internal gear mounted on each of said stub axle shafts, meanslon the outer end of said stub axle shafts for' connection respectively toV the wheels of an automobile, and driving means extending tothe respective ends of said tubular housing and engaging said respective internal gears.

4. In an intermediate driving axle for vehicles having a plurality of pairs of driving wheels, a hollow, load carrying housing having enlarged oil retaining end portions and a depressed central portion, bearings in said enlarged portions. inwardly projectingaxjially'alined revolving wheel spindles carried ectinr axiall alined revolving wheel s 'in-- s Y e en diportions, a pairiof rotatably mounted in driving pinions engaging said differential gearing andff'said -pinions, said .v

shafts having Vaxes in offset relation to each other, a bevel driving'gear `attached to the inner endjofk each of said shafts. andatransverse. straight through shaft havingfbevvel `pinions engaging each of said-bevel'gearsp i 5. Inv an intermediate driving axle for 've- Vhicles having'a plurality of pairs of ,driving wheels, a hollow, load carrying housing hav'- ing enlargedoil retainingfend portions'and a depressed vcentral portion, bearingsinfsaid enlarged portions, inwardly projecting axially alined revolving wheel-'spindles carried V:by said bearings,fdriving gears mounted-upon said' spindles. driving pinions engaging ysaid inner end `of each'of said sha-ftsgand'A aftrans- 85l drivin ggears, diferentialI gearing withinthe central portion ofsaid lhousingand driving :shaftswithin said 4housing connecting-said 'differential gearing andsaid pinions; said U9o f versefstlraight. `through shaft having bevel pinions engaging eachof saidbevelgears, and l f ay differentialgear on 4-s'aid transversek shaft between said pinions.

v 6.1In an axle.` a`hollow, load carrying houscentral portion, bearings in said enlarged end supporting said pinions and extending to; the

transverse shaft-,extending,through the central apart: of .said-housing andi -bevel .pinions on saidAv transverse shaft land fenga-fring. said v' bevel gears; i.

stantially tubular housing having Lenlarged plates'secured to veach of the ends of said housing in spaced relation to each other, bearingssupported centrally of each of said plates. a stub axle shafty said bearings at each internal gear mounted axle shafts, a flanged endof the housing, an on each of said stub 'ing'having" enlarged -ends and ar depressed ,7. .In an axlepthe combinationof iafvsubplate terminal carried on` the outer end ofv each of said stub axle shafts for securing the same respectively to the wheelsof an automobile, and drivingmeans extending to the respective endsof said and engaging said respective' internal gears.

8. Inan axle,

end, an enlarged end portion in offset relation to said center part and freely communitubular housing a center load-carrying part having a continuous opening from end to Y Segway,

V- forming 1 with said end vportion gr ngeearhousne f'ffj'oumaled magsaidbaring;

9. In en axle', 'a Center loadfcerrying part los Y vhiclles'h'avinge plurality-offpannrsV of' ,(:lrivingHvv i 'y wvheels, heving-in'combinatiom an axlehous- 36" ingfev vrevolving stubexleshaftet eaohen'd Y K- r thereof, 'bearings siipporting'vsaidshafts, "a, y; Y gearfmounteol on eachof saidsbaffts between fsaidbearings, a pinion engaging "gears," a bevleli gear, 'a

cover member, 'ande wheel yolriving 'axle Shaft :heving a continuous openingfrom end'to end,

'en enlarged end" .port'ionin offset relation `to 'a said?. center` zpart endQfreely communicating 1 Y Vpassegevvay, v yauf' loa'dfisupporting cover fmernber forming v "'fsai'd enportionanfoilfretaining gear 1 n ta. shorjtzoutw'ard tublar extension'. Ycent'rall'vto seriell'cover` member,k a `bearing g' Y `n iount'el .said extension anda Wheel driv- {ing shftjourneled inlseid bee-ring.V

hieleslhaving a pluralityfoffpairseofudriving A wheelglhavlng inicombnation an r axle hous- Y `ing,I a' revolving'stubmile Sheff@ 'at each end thereof,`bearings'lsupportinglsaid shefts,'ja,r`lv` f Y gerfmoungted'fon each yo-Iseil shafts between said bearings'apinion toseaeh offsaid Ypinions at itsrouter en d 'and bevel tol'eejchkother, andeJ drivesheft extendingy jthroughfsaidv husingjtransver'sely of said lloiigitndinel shafts 'and carrying bevel pin-` 'lions engagingsaid l i j i Y i r risieled bevel ."gear's.

abearlng mounted in seid;V .Y z-

engagingfeaeb oflsaid y l`clrivfe'shaftl attached Y v I t ea'eh 'of-said pinionsat yitsou'terlend and 1 j fvratedriveshats bev'ngaxesin offset relafftionto`eaehz:other,'end emeinjdriveshaft having'beveled pinions'engegingsaidbevel gears;

lAn' .intermediate l 'driving` Aaxle? forv vei each of said. d 'rve fsha'ftgattached n y gearl atiits inner end, said sep'el .Y rate drive shafts having aXesin 'offsetrelation- 

